WOMEN OF THE YEAR
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
“To be a hero or a heroine, one must give an order to oneself.” – Simone Weil
There is something special that sets apart those who, in the words of the French philosopher Simone Weil, “give an order” to themselves to be a hero or heroine.
USA TODAY’s Women of the Year project honors local and national heroines who make a positive impact in their communities every day.
Unfortunately, heroines sometimes go unrecognized for their work. This project is an attempt to remedy that. Across America, USA TODAY readers submitted their nominations for national and state Women of the Year honorees.
USA TODAY’s Women of the Year program is the continuation of our 2020 Women of the Century project, which showcased remarkable women in American history in the century since they won the right to vote with the passage of the 19th Amendment.
Meet these exceptional Women of the Year
Goldie Hawn
Grace Young
Women across America
Meet the USA TODAY Women of the Year honorees in every state, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Read their stories
Get inspired
Our special Women of the Year show features honorees sharing life lessons and inspiring adviceon USA TODAY’s YouTube channel and on the USA TODAY channel available on most smart televisions and devices. Learn more
US women’s soccer team on winning the fight for equal pay
In 2019, the U.S. women's national soccer team filed a lawsuit demanding equal pay and working conditions. Alex Morgan and Crystal Dunn explain. Read the story
In Congress, record numbers, record diversity and new power
It hasn’t been fast and it hasn’t been easy, but the rising tide of congresswomen is changing Capitol Hill. Read the story
Women of the Year honorees paving the way for others
Our Women of the Year honorees are courageous, breaking records and overcoming adversity on the way to success. Their accomplishments vary, but all center on the importance of making life better in their communities and our country. Read the column
Diverse group helped select the 2023 honorees
How did we choose USA TODAY’s Women of the Year? It started with nominations from you. In the end, diverse panel of experts helped to identify our final honorees. The panel was crucial in our work, and we are grateful for their time and effort. Learn more
Womankind: The extraordinary in the ordinary woman
Womankind, an inspiring video series from the Humankind franchise, showcases the untold stories of everyday women doing incredible things. The women of Womankind are entrepreneurs, small business owners, children, mentors, volunteers, teachers, pilots, mothers, friends, grandmothers. They are changing the world one act, one business, one relationship at a time. Watch more videos
Make a statement
Shop USA TODAY’s Women of the Year exclusive merch collection and champion women’s equity together. Shop the collection
Nominate a woman
Nominate a woman for her leadership or resilience for USA TODAY’s Women of the Year project. We’re looking for women who are advocates for equity, inspire change, lift up others and give everyday women a place to see themselves. Fill out our form
Meet the 2022 honorees
See the 2022 state honorees
These remarkable women are leading and inspiring all across the country. Their stories are as diverse as the honorees themselves. Read more
Women of the Century
USA TODAY’s Women of the Century project in 2020 highlighted achievements of trailblazing women in the 100 years since they won the right to vote. Explore the stories, podcast, augmented reality experience and more. Explore the project
Read the Women of the Century Q&As:
Rita Moreno: On bravery, her journey and the importance of listening
Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha: Lead was poisoning water in Flint, Michigan. She put her reputation on the line to prove it
Ruby Bridges: She was 6 when she walked into a segregated school. Now she teaches children to get past racial differences
Billie Jean King: On her journey for equal rights in tennis, life: ‘No one ever has it easy’
Jessie ‘Little Doe’ Baird: The language had gone quiet. Remarkably, she brought it back, saving far more than just words
Tarana Burke: On the power of empathy, the building block of the Me Too movement
Cristina Jiménez Moreta: She helped get DACA, now she helps young immigrants find their voice
Dolores Huerta: At 90, the labor leader still works to make a difference
Gloria Estefan: ‘Be in each and every moment, that’s the only thing you really have that’s guaranteed’
Madeleine Albright: On how she became secretary of state, speaking up as a woman and the importance of calling out wrongs
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA TODAY honors women who have made an impact in our communities
